Garaventa Stair Trac Sa 2 Owners Manual
Garaventa Stair Trac Sa 2 Owners Manual
Garaventa Stair Trac Sa 2 Owners Manual
Owners Manual
Stair-Trac has been designed to provide years of use in assisting physically disabled people to
overcome the barrier presented by stairs.
Before using the unit, please view the Operator Training video, and take a moment to read this
manual so you will have a thorough understanding of the operation of Stair-Trac. Ensure that Stair-
Trac is operated only by someone who has been properly trained.
Your Garaventa dealer is knowledgeable about the servicing requirements and safe operation of your
Stair-Trac. If you have any questions consult your dealer, or contact Garaventa by phoning 604-594-
0422, email customerrelations@garaventa.ca, or by writing:
Name: _________________________________________________________________
Address _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Telephone: __________________________________________________________________
Record your Stair-Trac serial number in the space below, and refer to it whenever you call your
Garaventa dealer about Stair-Trac.
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1 Safety First!
This symbol is used throughout this manual to draw your attention to instructions
that must be carefully followed to avoid possible dangers.
The following procedures are important to ensure the safe operation of Stair-
Trac:
Do not use Stair-Trac on stairs that have not been checked by using the Stair
Slope Indicator. Refer to page 5.
A chart on page 26 shows the sizes of wheelchairs that can be attached to Stair-
Trac. Use Stair-Trac only with wheelchairs that conform to these ranges and
clearances.
Some small wheelchairs may not be able to be pulled over the tracks due to their
low underside clearances. These may be able to be attached by using the
Wheelchair Attachment Ramp. Refer to page 16 for details.
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DO NOT OVERLOAD
Do not use Stair-Trac when the total load being carried (passenger and wheelchair)
is more than 130 kg (285 Ibs).
Ensure the Wheelchair Support Handle is locked on the Drive Frame. Refer to step
8 on page 7.
Ensure the Safety Belt is securely fastened, and that it passes under the arms of
the passenger.
Do not operate Stair-Trac if loose objects are hanging outside of the wheelchair.
Objects such as clothing or purses can be a safety hazard if they become caught
on the stairway or in the Stair-Trac drive mechanism.
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2 Terminology
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3 Operating Instructions
INTRODUCTION
To ensure the safety of the passenger and operator, read these operating
instructions carefully and view the Operator Training video. Practice sessions
should be held on a regular basis (monthly is recommended) to maintain
operator proficiency. In addition, building occupants for whom the Stair-Trac is
provided should be familiar with and comfortable in using Stair-Trac.
Note The note symbol is used to direct you to a section in this manual containing
additional operating tips.
The Stair Slope Indicator is used to assess whether the angle of the stairway is
within the optimum operating range of Stair-Trac. It should always be used.
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2. Tilt the Support Handle backwards
until the Locking Teeth latch under the
Locking Bar
ATTACHING WHEELCHAIRS
1. Refer to page 26 to determine the types and sizes of wheelchairs that can be
attached to Stair-Trac.
2. Turn on the Key-Operated Switch located at the rear of the Drive Frame.
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5. Raise the Wheelchair Support Handle
Note
Page 13 and position the Holding Clamp Blocks
Item 2 under the curve in the wheelchair
handle. Ensure that the wheelchair
handle rests in the hollow of the
Clamp Block.
Adjust the Clamp Blocks side to side by sliding them on their mounting bars.
7. Fasten the Safety Belt securely, ensuring that it passes under the arms of the
passenger. Adjust the Headrest.
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Since the weight of the passenger is tilted backwards at this point, always keep
both hands on the Support Handle Hand Grips for stability. Do not leave the
passenger unattended in this position.
DETACHING WHEELCHAIRS
3. Lift the handle upright, release the Safety Belt and Holding Clamps, and remove
the wheelchair.
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HORIZONTAL TRAVEL
ASCENDING STAIRS
Practice ascending stairs without a passenger until you feel confident of your
ability to use Stair-Trac. Practice ascending before you practice descending.
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1. Use the Slope Indicator to determine if Stair-Trac can be used on the
stairway.
Note Note 4. As you ascend, ensure that Stair-Trac remains at a right angle to the stairs.
Page 14 Page 14
Item 5 Item 6
5. Stop Stair-Trac at the top of the stairs
when the leading edge of the red
STOP mark on the Drive Frame
Note reaches the top stair nose.
Page 15
Item 7
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DESCENDING STAIRS
Practice descending stairs without a passenger until you feel confident of your
ability to use Stair-Trac. Practice ascending before you practice descending.
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5. As you descend, ensure that Stair-Trac remains at a right angle to the stairs.
STORAGE
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4 Operating Tips
Throughout this manual, the note symbol has been used to indicate areas where
Note additional operating tips may be helpful. Following are these tips.
1. When attaching a small wheelchair, the chairs cross-frame may contact the
tracks of Stair-Trac. The Wheelchair Attachment Ramp (optional item) can be
used to raise the wheelchair slightly and facilitate attachment and
detachment. Refer to Wheelchair Attachment Ramp on page 16.
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3. Curbs or ridges higher than 50 mm (2 in) should be crossed by backing Stair-
Trac over them, powered by the tracks. For ridges less than 50 mm (2 in) that
Stair-Trac cannot easily rollover, simply lift upward on the handle and press the
left side of the Operating Switch while moving forward over the obstacle. This will
allow the tracks to pull Stair-Trac over the obstacle. Practice this maneuver first
without a passenger.
4. Operating Stair-Trac near the inner core of a stairway will keep the stairway clear
for pedestrians, facilitate turning corners at the landings and provide your
passenger with an added sense of comfort.
5. A slight bump may occur as the Auxiliary Wheels rollover the first stair nose. This
is normal. If the tracks slip and can't seem to push Stair-Trac past this point,
simply lift up slightly on the handle while Stair-Trac is moving backwards. This
will provide added traction between the tracks and the floor, allowing the Wheels
to ride over the first stair nose.
6. On some stairways Stair-Trac may bump slightly at one or two points during
ascent or descent. This will not happen on all stairways, and occurs because the
spacing between lugs on the tracks does not always coincide with the spacing
between stair noses. When the top of a lug contacts a stair nose the Stair-Trac
will shift slightly to position the base of the track on the stair nose, resulting in a
slight bump. There is no cause for alarm as Stair-Trac is perfectly stable and
safe. You should inform your passenger that these bumps may occur so the
passenger is not alarmed.
7. The red STOP mark identifies the balance point of Stair-Trac. Under most
conditions the mark is accurate; however, balance points will vary depending on
the size of the wheelchair and the weight of the passenger. Always use caution
when tilting Stair-Trac backward or forward at this point.
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5 Optional Equipment
WHEELCHAIR ATTACHMENT RAMP
To detach the wheelchair, move the Stair-Trac and passenger into position over
the ramp, then lower the wheelchair and detach it as described under Detaching
Wheelchairs on page 8.
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VEHICLE LOADING RAMP
Stair-Trac can easily be loaded into a van or a car trunk by using the Vehicle
Loading Ramp.
The Ramp was designed to support the Drive Frame only, and is not capable of
supporting Stair-Trac with a passenger.
4. Use the Operating Switch to make the Drive Frame crawl up the Ramp until it
is balanced over the top edge of the Ramp.
5. (a) Cars:
Tilt the front of the Drive Frame into the car trunk. When the tracks rest on the
trunk floor, swing the back of the unit into the trunk, using the Operating
Switch located on the Drive Frame to position Stair-Trac as required.
6. Place the Wheelchair Support Handle upside down on the top of the Drive
Frame. Refer to Storage (page 12).
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6 Service
BATTERIES
General
Stair-Trac is powered by two 6-volt sealed batteries. These cells are spill-proof,
maintenance-free and rechargeable. Power capacity under a full load while travelling
upstairs is about 650 stairs or approximately 30 minutes on a full charge.
Charging Batteries
The Battery Charger is used to charge the Stair-Trac batteries from the mainline (120
VAC) supply. Your Stair-Trac comes supplied with a 12 volt Charger designed for
sealed batteries. It features the maximum recommended 4 amp charge rate and will
automatically switch to a trickle-charge rate when the batteries are close to fully
charged. At this point the Charger may be left connected indefinitely without damaging
the batteries. The trickle-charge feature is important to prevent over-charging of the
batteries and to help prolong their life.
Charging time will vary depending on battery use, but should not require more than
eight hours.
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4. The lamp will glow AMBER when the battery is charging and will change to GREEN
when the battery is fully charged.
If a battery has been stored for a long period and has become discharged (but still
shows a voltage reading) it can be brought back to full charge by cycling it several
times. To do this, charge the battery about ten hours, then use it for a few minutes but
not long enough to totally discharge it. Then charge the battery again for about ten
hours then use it for a few minutes. Cycle it this way about five times over a period of
two weeks and the battery may recover. Whether or not it does will depend on the age
of the battery and the care it has been given.
Storing Batteries
Stored batteries should be fully charged every three months during the storage period.
Storage for a long period without recharging may cause batteries to become unable to
be restored to capacity. This period will vary depending on what use the batteries have
had before storage, their depth of charge at the time of storage, and the storage
conditions.
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Remove the battery pack from the equipment if it will not be used for more than six
months.
To store the battery pack, disconnect it from the charger and store it in as dry and cool a
location as possible.
Friction Adjustment
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TRACKS
Alignment
It is important that tracks are aligned with each other to ensure that the track lugs
on both tracks contact a stair nose at the same time.
Tension
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At a point halfway between the Idler
Roller and the Drive Roller, press down
firmly with your hand. At the closest
point the track cogs should be 70mm
3mm (2 3/4 in 1/8 in) away from the flat
part of the Drive Frame. You'll note that the
tracks will touch the motor housing, but this
is taken into consideration in the
measurements. Check and adjust each track to obtain this measurement.
Tension Adjustment
When decreasing tension, after turning the Adjusting Screw, press down on the
tracks to remove any slack in them and to relocate the rear axle.
Wear on Stair-Trac's tracks should be minimal and track life will be determined
by natural environmental conditions. The tracks contain hundreds of steel wires
to eliminate any possibility of stretching, and are covered by a thick coat of
rubber. They are very durable, but should be replaced if they are cut or cracked
in any way, or show signs of deterioration.
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To remove a track, remove the four
screws that attach the Wheel Flange to
the Wheel, then remove the Flange. Use
chalk or a felt pen to mark the position of
the track relative to its toothed wheel,
then slide the track off the wheel.
When re-installing the track, ensure the chalk mark you've made on the track
lines up with the chalk mark on the wheel. Check track alignment as outlined at
the beginning of this chapter.
Cleaning
To ensure maximum adhesion to stair surfaces, tracks must be kept clean and
free of oil and dirt.
In some cases wax applied to floor surfaces can be spread to the stairs by
pedestrian traffic. Over a period of time this wax will build up on the tracks,
causing poor traction between the tracks and the stairs, and resulting in Stair-
Trac slipping on the stairs.
Tracks can be cleaned using a mild detergent. Wax build-up can be removed
with household wax-removing products. The need for cleaning the tracks will
depend on the frequency that Stair-Trac is used, but we recommend that tracks
be cleaned at least twice yearly.
Similarly, the noses of the stairs that Stair-Trac routinely ascends or descends
should be cleaned regularly.
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LUBRICATION
Bearings used in the motor, gearbox and drive wheels are sealed and require no
lubrication. All other moving parts except for the Locking Teeth should be lightly
oiled with a medium weight oil such as automotive type SAE 30.
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7 Specifications
Load Capacity .............................................................. 130 kg/285 Ibs
Power capacity (loaded) ....................................................... 650 stairs
Speed:
Up stairs ........................................................6.45 m(21.2 ft)/min
Down stairs ...................................................8.81 m(28.9 ft)/min
Motor ........................................................................................12 V dc
Batteries .........................................................................2 x 6V, 20 AH
Charge rate (max) ....................................................................4 Amps
Maximum stair angle ..................................................................... 35
Dimensions:
Height ................................................................ 922 mm/36.3 in
Length .............................................................. 1468 mm/57.8 in
Width ..................................................................... 636 mm/25 in
Weight:
Drive Frame ............................................................ 31 kg/68 Ibs
Support Handle ........................................................ 14 kg/31lbs
Battery ................................................................... 8.5 kg/19 Ibs
Total ................................................................... 53.5 kg/118 Ibs
05116-C-OM Stair-Trac
8 Trouble Shooting
If the remedies shown below do not resolve your operating problem, contact your authorized Stair-
Trac dealer for service.
Charger won't recharge battery Poor connection between Check and tighten
charger and battery
Goes up or down stairs at an Tracks out of alignment Refer to page 20, or contact
angle dealer
Tracks slip on stairs Tracks out of alignment Refer to page 20, or contact
dealer
Tracks slip on first step Normal operation Refer to page 14, item 5
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9 Clearances
To determine if a wheelchair can be attached to Stair-Trac, measure the height and width of the
wheelchair handles and measure the clearances under the wheelchair. If they fall within the limits
shown below and no special modifications have been made which might hinder its attachment, the
chair should be able to be attached to Stair-Trac. Note that by using a Wheelchair Attachment Ramp
(refer to page 16) the wheelchair is raised by 63 mm (2 1/2 in). This increased clearance enables
some small wheelchairs to be attached to Stair-Trac.
Stair-Trac can be used only with wheelchairs that are fitted with push handles, and the push handles
must be securely fastened to the wheelchair frames.
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10 Warranty
Garaventa warrants Stair-Trac to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal
use and service for a period of one year from the date of purchase, reasonable wear and tear
excluded. Proof of date of purchase is required to determine warranty period.
This Warranty does not extend to any Stair-Trac unit which has been subjected to misuse, neglect,
accident, modifications, or damage from fire, lightning, or water, or used in violation of the instructions
furnished, nor units repaired or altered by other than an authorized dealer .
Garaventa's liability hereunder is limited to repair and replacement only. Transportation and labor
charges are not covered. Garaventa accepts no liability for any loss or damage resulting from the use
or misuse of Stair-Trac, whether such loss or damage is direct, indirect or consequential. All other
express or implied warranties, statutory or otherwise, are excluded.
WARRANTY REGISTRATION
A postage-paid warranty registration card is enclosed with this Owner's Manual. Complete and return
the card within ten days of your Stair-Trac purchase.
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